Photographer's Note

These boats run around touristic ports in the south-west Turkey. Even though they are much slower than normal sailing boats/yatchs, these boats have large spaces on their decks for sun bathing, large dinners or having a party(!!!). They are of course best way to see Lykian or Karian archaeological sites and natural beauties; and if you know nothing about proper sailing, this is the best method for travelling. I myself prefer smaller more pro yatchs that run on sails, but once a year I try to take a trip on gulettes just to have fun and rest. These voyages on Turkish coast are called "Blue Voyages" after some very famous Turkish writers, poets and artists making them back in 1950's and producing art describing these voyages. The prominant writer of that era was "The fisherman of Halikarnassos" who after a brief classical education at Oxford, joined Spanish civil war, then returning to Turkey got himself exiled to Bodrum by annoying some politicians back in 1940s with his newspaper stories. Unfortunately they haven't exiled anyone since then, I would have loved to be exiled to a seaside place myself nowadays!!!! Anyway, this chap having a classical education, took up writing stories and novels about mythology in Bodrum and started these trips by inviting his intellectual friends. Of course then, their boat would have been the only one sailing at these then unknown and quiet places... nowadays thousands of boats sail here, and the coast is dotted with 5 star hotels, it is getting harder to find a quiet spot in high season (july and august). That is why I take mine in late september or april-may period, before the tourists come, and the weather is less hot....

Our friend Knut runs such a boat (havent not seen his boat I don't know whether he has a gulette or not). But he definately knows Blue Voyages better than me being a professional at sea; I myself am not a sailor at all, but just an archaeologist who wants to see the ancient sites from the sea just like the Romans did....

Hello Tolga,
The "Blue Voyages" are looking great. The perfect POV here. The boat is looking great with good colors and contrast. The background is giving true depth to the foreground.
Thanks for showing this nice composition.
- Rakesh